Egyptian, Russian ministers of defence, foreign affairs to meet on 14 May

The coming meeting of the strategic “2+2” consultations between Egypt and Russia, which include their ministers of foreign affairs and defence, will be held in Moscow on 14 May, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Russia signed that agreement with only five other countries besides Egypt.

Zakharova added at a press conference on Friday that meetings will also be held between the countries’ defence and foreign ministers separately. The meetings will address international and regional issues. They will focus on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

The ministers will particularly discuss boosting Egyptian-Russian cooperation in order to solve crises on the basis of the international law, respecting the sovereignty of each country, and not intervening in the internal affairs of any nation, according to Zakharova.

Zakharova added that the two sides will discuss ways of boosting cooperation in countering terrorism and review the main fields of cooperation between Egypt and Russia.

Relations between Egypt and Russia have significantly improved in the four years since Al-Sisi came to power. The two countries share the same points of view regarding the situation in Syria. Both countries support the Syrian army’s fight against the Islamic State group, and other groups fighting against Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria.